As an example... before I took over one of my classes there was a guy who reached brown belt there, much the same time as I did. He could perform to the standard for his grade, but when I took over the class I threw him out for sexually harassing one of the students.

This was some 2-3 years ago, so he's been a brown belt for that time. He could write to, say, this world MA college, and say he was the victim of politics (this guy still maintains that he was doing nothing wrong). I don't actually believe these people do any checking at all, never mind what they say about reputable organsiations and such.

So he claims he was edged out due to politics, has been trainng since and is ready for BB or 3rd Dan or godhood or whatever, and these people give him a grade. He sets up a class.

Now here's me with enough evidence on this guy to prosecute for several criminal offences (We were preparing a legal case if it came down to it. Witnesses, evidence etc are still Condition One). Point is, suppose one day I find he's teaching a class. What then? Are these people who gave our man his black belt prepared to back him up if I decide to take the legal route to get him closed down? Or will they say 'nah, we just sold him a grade. We're not responsible'.

If it comes down to it... if they sell an instructor level grade to someone without doing any checking and that person gets prosecuted, then I wonder what their position will be. If they can't answer that, well, I won't be surprised.

But yeah, it's "roku". I had to test you, because if it's one thing I hate is people who fake a foreign language to sound esoteric. Not saying you would do it, just that your school might.

I remember when I took TKD and the highest ranking person was some middle-aged woman. Being the highest-ranking, she had to go through the "bow to the flag, bow to Master" and then say some stuff in Korean. She butchered it. I don't mean butchered like how you try to say "good morning" in someone's native tongue to sound sincere, I mean like taking a baby and ripping it open with a screw driver. I can only imagine how my instructor (from Korea) must have felt.

25 years equals five years for each 5th Dan grade ( QUOTE: ''I have 25 years of martial arts experience and hold 5th Degree in Jujitsu, Kung Fu, Taekwondo and Hapkido.''). But no, it's even better - the first one took 9 years, so he achieved a 5th Dan in 4 diverse MA's in 4 years apiece.

Did the training include shooting himself in the foot while holding it in his mouth, perchance?

If anyone wants a sincerely useful freebie, look up the Universal Life Church of California - you can become a Reverend online and apparently put on your dog collar and get busy with the marrying and burying. Think it's www.ulc.org ). ;)

You may now refer to me as the Reverend Codos. Thanks online credentials. Anybody want to get married?

i did, i bought a brown belt and instructor certificate. i didnt want a black belt so that it would be easier for people to believe me. after i get teh official certificates im going to ask phrost for a bullshido brown belt and bullshido instructor tag.